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AIBU?

Is it U to leave 2 teenagers between 9pm and 11.30pm alone?

65 replies

ZombiesAteYourCervix · 15/10/2011 17:07

DH thinks it is.

I don't. I think they'd be fine.

Who is right?

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ZombiesAteYourCervix · 15/10/2011 17:07

and as DH has just disappeared in the car without thinking to mention where he is going this may be a pointless question and we may not be going out at all.....

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squeakytoy · 15/10/2011 17:08

If you trust them not to have all their mates in, then of course it is fine. Why wouldnt it be???

My parents were out 3 or 4 nights a week from 8 till 11 from me being 12yo.

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aldiwhore · 15/10/2011 17:10

2 and 1/2 hours is a good starting point for younger teen, to see how they behave... come home early!

I don't think its unreasonable at all.

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Hassled · 15/10/2011 17:11

Depends on the kids. Are they usually fairly responsible or will there be 100 teenagers drunk on Diamond White, standing in rivers of vomit while your neighbours plead with them for a bit of peace by the time you get home?

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ZombiesAteYourCervix · 15/10/2011 17:11

granny will babysit until 9 ish.

DH said'but it will be dark'
and where the chuff has he gone?

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HollywoodAgentForTheLivingDead · 15/10/2011 17:11

Why does he think they won't be OK?

Surely they'll be able to ring you while you're out if something major came up?

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PandaG · 15/10/2011 17:11

how old are the teens, and how far away will you be, or do you have neighbours they could turn to?

FWIW I left DS (nearly 12) with 2 friends 11 and nearly 13 last Saturday night, from 8 to 11. They were watching DVDs at one house, all the adults were at another house - 3 mins round the corner- having dinner with the younger siblings watching a DVD then going to bed. This was on the very edge of my comfort zone, but all 3 lads get on well, are sensible, and had very strict ground rules - no internet, this specific DVD, bed at 10, etc., and were checked up on by text several times.

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squeakytoy · 15/10/2011 17:13

Blimey, at that age I was the babysitter... not the one being babysat!!

I assume you have electricity.. or at least candles... lol. not as if they are going to be sat there in the dark.. they will be glued to x-factor..

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ZombiesAteYourCervix · 15/10/2011 17:13

DDs are 13 and 15. we'll be 40 minute drive away.

where the bloody hell is he?

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PandaG · 15/10/2011 17:13

ah, the younger sibs were watching a DVD separate to the adults having a grown up dinner. It worked very well, and I would do it again. Wouldn't leave my DC together on their own though, not for several years.

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ChippingInToThePumpkinLantern · 15/10/2011 17:14

I would ask them if they feel OK about it, if they're happy then why not give it a go. I was babysitting at 13 (for anyone & everyone - not just the neighbours), although, my parents seldom left us home alone together because they thought we might kill each other - they had a point

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PandaG · 15/10/2011 17:14

13 and 15? no problem, as long as you know they won't be inviting all their mates in for a party! I think I would want to brief a neighbour to be on call just in case

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tyler80 · 15/10/2011 17:15

Well at that sort of age, my parents would have been happy for either of us to be home alone for that length of time, but we wouldn't have been left in the house together.

Do your DD's get on?

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pointydog · 15/10/2011 17:16

Fine

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ZombiesAteYourCervix · 15/10/2011 17:18

they normally hate each other but are behaving at the mo.

They'd just watch x factor and BB. They are fairly sensible.

Still think they'd be fine.

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gordyslovesheep · 15/10/2011 17:19

oh that's fine - my sister used to babysit for me at 15 - I was 11 - we survived [hgrin]

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exoticfruits · 15/10/2011 17:20

At 13 and 15 I would. Unless you have family it is far too embarrassing to get a babysitter for the 15yr old. I was a paid babysitter for neighbours at that age.

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Ihavewelliesbutitssunny · 15/10/2011 17:23

Perhaps DH has gone to Paris

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akaemwahahahafrost · 15/10/2011 17:23

I was babysitting OTHER kids at age 13/14!

I think they will be fine as long as no SN involved.

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Birdsgottafly · 15/10/2011 17:23

I leave mine at this age.

If they have a problem with each other, one can just go to bed.

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aldiwhore · 15/10/2011 17:25

Thinking back.... Gordy has nugded my memory. I babysat my little sister at 15 (under extreme duress and a high fee).

Being together, I would certainly read them the riot act before I left, and hide the booze.

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ChaoticAngelofSamhain · 15/10/2011 17:27

I used to babysit at the age of 15. My DD was 14 the first time I left my DC alone at night, while I went for a night out. Both of mine are sensible and I took, and checked, my mobile while out. They were fine.

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ZombiesAteYourCervix · 15/10/2011 17:38

they'll be fine. if DH thinks not then sod him, he can stay home and i shall party all night.

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mumblechum1 · 15/10/2011 17:44

Good grief, I just left ds home alone for a week and he was fine, he loved having the house to himself. He's 17 now but has also been to the States alone, been wild camping with a friend 50 miles for civilisation at 15 and we've left him in the evenings since he was 13 quite happily.

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exoticfruits · 15/10/2011 17:47

The 15yr old could get married next year-I'm sure he can be left with a sibling for a couple of hours!